GAIL Gas to tie up with Uber to promote CNG

In an effort to encourage the use of eco-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel, GAIL Gas Ltd is tying up with Uber, the cab aggregator major, in Bengaluru.

Uber is likely to convert close to 500 of its four-wheelers to CNG fuel to begin with. GAIL Gas, which is the supplier of CNG and piped natural gas (PNG) in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts, has set up a CNG refilling station near the Kempegowda International Airport for this purpose, a senior official of GAIL Gas, who refused to be quoted, told DH.

"We are in an advanced stage of talks with Uber. Fuel will be supplied to Uber vehicles providing airport service at the CNG station near the KIA (near the Hardware Park). We hope the use of CNG fuel will pick up after this initiative," the official said.

GAIL Gas has been struggling to promote CNG fuel in Bengaluru ever since it started its operations about two years ago. Though the company has set up four CNG refilling stations — Sumanahalli, Peenya, Hennur and Prem Nagar off Magadi Road — hardly 50 private vehicles are using CNG in the state capital.

Efforts to persuade the state-run Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to induct CNG-powered buses in its fleet have been in vain. Though the state finance department had given a go ahead for purchasing 200 CNG buses, the BMTC did not evince interest.

GAIL Gas general manager Vivek Wathodkar confirmed that the company is in talks with Uber, but he refused to divulge details. "GAIL Gas has been taking a number of initiatives to promote CNG in Bengaluru in the coming days. We will set up an additional 20 CNG refill stations in the next one year in various parts of Bengaluru," he said.

He said GAIL Gas has entered into an agreement with state-owned oil-marketing companies for setting up CNG stations at their petrol bunks. Of the 20 CNG stations planned to be set up, 12 will come up at IOC bunks and four each at BPCL and HPCL bunks, Wathodkar added.

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